A hilly region a few hundred miles away from Varian's location.
Soldiers from the base who should be fatigued and resting rushed to the frontline staking their lives.
Even though they maintained a strict posture, they were far from their optimal condition.
Every soldier had a strict shift—typically around 16 hours of work a day. Anymore than that, their efficiency would plummet.
However, even working for sixteen hours, guarding the borders against a belligerent species was easier said than done.
Every day, there would be hundreds of small skirmishes. Most of them were Abyssals trying to sneak in and reach the mobile bases with explosives.
Other times, they would be specifically targetting a crucial infrastructure. If it was lost, then they would slowly gain dominance over a small area.
If they let it slide, those small areas would add up and they would loose a big chunk of their land.
Thus, every soldier on duty had to be highly alert all the time. After the high stress work, they would do something to chill out.
Some called their families regularly. Others enjoyed the recreational facilities in the base.
However, most of the non-working 8 hours was spent in meditating. After all, any Awakener spent the majority of their time meditating.
Since they were enlisted in the army, they received a couple of aura crystals every week.
Other than merit, the only way to get more aura crystals was to show progress in the Divine Path.
It could be said that they were living under stress all the time.
However, right when the Abyssals launched an all out attack, alarm bells rang across all the bases.
In no time, every soldier in the base, save for the base security, boarded the military vehicles.
Their target, situation and objectives were all briefed along the way. The advanced AI of human army, Ares, assigned them with the most efficient mission.
The soldiers in the flying truck put their hands on their chest and closed their eyes for a moment.
It was a military practice since ancient times.
After a moment, the Sergeant looked at his squad and raised his fist.
"For the Human Race!"
"For the Human Race!"
"For the Human Race!"
Their war cries was soon joined by the military vehicle next to them. Its war cries were joined by the one next to it and the one next to it until…
Soon, the planetoid was covered by the war cry.
"For the Human Race!"
Hearing those words, the soldiers on the frontline shook for a moment. Their blood boiled and they found strength from the deepest corners of their being.
As a soldier, they were fighting not just for their own lives, but for the lives of their families, their friends and more importantly, their comrades.
Despite their differences, and conflicts, everyone in the frontlines felt the sameness.
They were all humans!
Pushing themselves to the limit, they faced the stronger enemy.
A few hundred miles behind them, like moths going to the fire, the soldiers rushed to the dangerous front lines.
They quickly assembled into designed teams—comprising of the already tested and proven combination of awakeners.
In a war involving awakeners, unless one was a mind awakener, fortifications were only used for defense.
Even Elementalists had to enter the battle field to attack.
"Go!"
"Rip them to shreds!"
"Protect your comrades!"
With the reinforcements joining in, the human army gained new vigor. Their morale was raised and things seemed to be going well.
Until…
Boom!
A Level 5 Fire Awakener Abyssal scorched a squad that just arrived. The squad consisted of only six level 4s and four level 3s.
It was already an elite squad by army standards. But facing them as a level 5.
The result went without saying.
"Insects! Morale won't help! Our absolute strength is much higher than yours! Give up and surrender already!" The Abyssal's voice resounded for miles.
The human soldiers in the vicinity were taken aback.
In every conflict so far, their deployments were matched. So Level 5 Abyssals were engaged by Level 5 Humans.
Other than a few rare cases, it was always fighting against ones of the same level.
Even though they were informed that there were more Level 5s on the frontline, the situation still caught them off guard.
They couldn't fight across the realm.
After all, not everyone was a genius.
Heck! As the levels rose, even geniuses found it hard to attack a higher sub-level, much less fighting a higher level!
This scene repeated across the planetoid. Even if Abyssals had one extra Level 5 for every ten human Level 5s, the total number of extras would still be astronomical.
Thus, it was only a matter of time before they lost.
However, there were always people that refused to give up. The hope in their hearts could not be extinguished.
"Fight!"
"Reinforcements are on the way!"
"The space patrol will reach us in a few minutes! Just hold on!"
As quick as it came, the gloomy atmosphere on the human side faded.
Instead, the morale surged further.
"I never fought a Level 5!"
"If I, a Level 4 Body Awakener can bring down a Level 5, even if I die, I have no regrets!"
"Yes! My Son would be proud!"
"Haha! Let's show them what we are made of!"
All they had to do was stall and they would win this conflict.
Knowing their lives…or deaths were going to make a difference, they went beyond their limits and clashed with the Abyssals.
"Y-You insects!" The Level 5 Abyssals were enraged.
With every attack, a couple of humans would die. But before they died, they would leave behind an attack.
Most of them were minor injuries. But some…were serious injuries at the price of their life.
To the utter shock of the Abyssals, a couple of Level 5 Abyssals were killed!
"Pests!"
The battle intensified.
The Abyssals focused their defense and didn't allow themselves to get injured again.
The human morale was hit.
Despite their bravery, after all they were only Level 4. Out of all the extra Level 5s, only a few were killed.
Their sacrifices couldn't reverse the tide.
A few minutes passed as tens of thousands of human lives were lost.
The Space Patrol should've already noticed their situation and sent reinforcements.
Sending a Level 7 was too much. Just a couple of Level 6s could solve the situation.
But…
"Don't look at the sky in the middle of the battle, you moron!" A Level 5 Abyssal swung his saber.
-Shuaa!
Like a broken package, the human in front of him was sliced open, spilling the innards.
"There is no help coming! Your space patrol doesn't even know the situation here!" The level 5 announced as the Abyssals behind cackled with delight.
Every soldier suddenly felt a chill down their spine.
If the reinforcements didn't arrive in time, Abyssals would occupy the entire planetoid.
Then, even if they sent Level 7s, Abyssals would simply match their deployment.
Unless they were willing to pay a heavy price, they would not be able to take this planetoid.
And the price…it would be far more worth than this planetoid.
At the same time, the voice of the supreme commander of the planetoid sounded across the frontlines.
"Haha! You are too weak. And you thought you can compete with us, the ancient Abyssals?
You are destined to lose. Tell you what, Pluto is just the beginning.
We slaughtered the one billion back then. Most of them were civilians. Perhaps you know some of them?
I mean, you have that Red Pluto day, don't you?
You'll soon have Rena day. Enjoy!"
Those words stung deeply in the psyche of every human. Especially the ones that lost someone in Pluto.
"Arggh!"
"Kill!"
"Even if I die, I'll kill two!"
When the last of their hopes were crushed, the soldiers didn't cower in fear.
They had seen to many deaths. Even in their own base, they would spot a few soldiers missing every week.
The ones they were laughing with and had meals together were reportedly dead during their duty.
Thus, they weren't scared. But instead…
Instead, their eyes reddened. Even though they knew they would likely die, when really faced with the certainty of death, their lives flashed in front of their eyes.
If they were to fall here, then so be it. But before they do, they would make sure that the Abyssals paid a painful price.
"Die!"
"Kill!"
Slowly, the carefully maintained team formations were broken. Despite their professionalism, they were letting their emotions take over. Their actions turned suicidal and their plans became reckless.
Even for Abyssals, it was difficult thing to push humans to such a degree. But the right combination of circumstance, words and speaker did the job.
The Supreme Commander of the Abyssals, peak Level 6, smiled calmly.
'When your enemy loses their rational judgement, victory is set in stone.'